The VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange gained 0.41 percent to finish the session at 502.23 points on May 22.

The market volume was down 25 percent from the May 21 session, however, totalling nearly 67 million shares, while the value of trades decreasing 30 percent to 1.086 trillion VND (51.7 million USD).

Blue chips were mixed. Among the top 30 shares by market capitalisation and liquidity, 13 advanced while 12 declined, lifting the VN30 up just 0.23 percent on 566.79 points.

Vinh Son-Song Hinh Hydro-power (VSH) surprised the market to become the most active code on the southern bourse with 3.53 million shares changing hands. VSH climbed over 2 percent at 14,700 VND (0.70USD) a share.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index grew 1.56 percent to a close on 62.59 points. Trading value also increased 20 percent over the previous session, totalling over 511.3 billion VND (24.3 million USD).

Sai Gon-Hanoi Bank (SHB) was the most active code on the northern bourse on huge trades of 18.9 million shares, edging up nearly 3 percent to settle at 7,200 VND a share.

Other speculative stocks such as Sacomreal (SCR) and PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) also saw active trades with each having from 5.4-6.8 million shares exchanged. SCR rose 1.3 percent to 7,900 VND while PVX climbed 5.8 percent to 5,500VND.

Foreign investors were also net buyers on both exchanges, picking up shares worth a combined 47.5 billion VND (2.3 million USD).-VNA